TUTORIAL: Manipulate objects on the map [POG]

How to modify POG files

You need the PC version, do NOT install your game it in C:/Programm Files, I recommand C:/Hogs of War

You need to download 2 programms (search it on google)

Hex-Editor MX

Notepad++

Backup the whole map folder in your hogs of war directory (and also any other files you want to modify)

In the map folder you will find all the maps you can edit, the first mission is called "ESTU.POG" (here is a complete list)

Open ESTU.POG in Notepad++

If you want to remove one object on a map, you need to erase the WHOLE block from the object name until the next object name ! (see screenshot)

You can add an object in the exact same way, you need to copy & paste the WHOLE object block. It doesn't really matter where you paste it, but it shouldn't be at the very beginning, nor at the very end, just paste it right infront of another object block. In Notepad++ there are special
functions to copy the binary content, if you use regular copy/paste it won't work, you need to use: Edit --> Paste
Special --> Copy/Paste Binary Content

You must not add spaces/return or any additional charakters to the file, otherwise it will crash. You litterally can only copy & paste
content from various map files.

Once you have pasted the desired objects into your POG file you can edit the objects themself. To do
this, you have to open the file in the Hex-Editor MX.

The file is now shown in hexadecimal format, each pair represents one value that has a meaning in the game. Now the struggle starts, you basically need to find out what the meaning of all those pairs is and what other values the pairs can accept. You can do that by manipulating the values and check if it changes something ingame or you could also check the other mission files and see if other values are used there (or if similar values are used in the same spots).

You don't have to do all of the work, you will find a nearly complete list below. However, in case you figure out new values, please share them with me !

POG FORMAT STRUCTURE EXPLAINED

The first two bytes of the POG files contains the number of objects in the mission. Then in all the following bytes these objects are described.

In this example I show the object HV_ME (it's a pig), but my findings will work on any object. The data size of all the objects is exactly the same (94 bytes) you can edit each of them and manipulate how the objects behave in the game in some way.

Images

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There are 17 unknown bytes on the 4th line (from 0x41 to 0x51). I think those values are used for advanced scripting (boot camp training ?).

The last 3 bytes are unknown/useless as well, they are probably a placeholder for last-minute additions when the developpers made the game.

If you find any other values for those bytes or if you discover a new meaning of a byte then please share it with us in this thread !!!HUGE THANKS to Valera & Mikhail who found out all those informations !